Wolves fall to Heat in shootout

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Just talk to the Wolves’ first-line players for an explanation regarding the team’s up-and-down start to the season.

In games the Wolves have won, the first line has been superb. In losses, devastatingly mediocre. Friday night against Abbortsford at Allstate Arena, it was the latter.

The first line allowed the Heat a goal 25 seconds into the second period in a 3-2 shootout loss. The Heat won the shootout 2-1.

The Wolves’ first line has allowed three goals in the last two games, both losses.

“It’s just making sure we stay focused for a full game,” defenseman Kevin Connauton said. “In this league, if you let up for a bit, teams are going to capitalize on it, and I think that’s what happened there in the second period.”

Their third shootout loss as many chances was just as disheartening to the Wolves, who believed they played well enough in the first, third and overtime periods to win.

The Wolves have scored three combined goals in shootouts this season.

“The shootout is not our friend right now,” coach Craig MacTavish said. “It kills your mood a little bit. It’s all kind of light when you get to the shootout, but when you lose, it really has a way of zapping your emotions, your energy, heading into the next night. So we have to be careful of that.”

The Wolves took a 2-0 lead after the first period on goals by Tim Miller and Connauton (power play).

Ben Walter and Brendan Mikkelson scored for the Heat in the second period.

The Wolves had won six of eight entering Friday. They play in Grand Rapids on Saturday before a rematch with Abbotsford on Sunday.

“We didn’t really come out in the second like we did in the first and the third,” Connauton said. “Unfortunately, if you don’t play a full 60, it can bite you.”